A two-day conference on maritime security in the Gulf kicked-off in the Bahraini capital on Monday under the auspices of the Warsaw Process Working Group on Maritime and Aviation Security.
The conference includes more than 60 countries, which announced their accession to the international alliance for the safety and protection of maritime navigation. The alliance covers the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, and the Sea of Oman.
The coalition, called for by the United States, includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, Australia, and other countries, and aims to provide safe navigation, secure global trade and protect the interests of participating countries in order to enhance the security and safety of merchant ships passing through the corridors.
Discussions at the two-day conference include means to increase state participation in existing international non-proliferation arrangements that promote regional stability and security, including the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, such as Security Council Resolution 1540.
The Security Council resolution imposes binding obligations on all UN member-states to develop and enforce legal and regulatory measures against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including strong domestic controls over materials used in the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.
In addition, the protocols outline a comprehensive set of procedures and protections for the boarding of suspected vessels and provide States with the most powerful tools to prevent terrorism and combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction at sea.
Other sessions will also discuss the activation of sanctions on the transfer of weapons in various ways, including air transport, and what countries can do to counter such threats.
